So, imagine just how excited I was when I was asked to take this collection and "Decorate It Forward" to someone in need this Christmas! Seriously?!?! I love love love stuff like this...just the thought of possibly making someone else smile makes me feel awesome...

Kmart generously sent me a HUGE box filled with a million pieces of the Golden Heritage Collection...these photos do not do these pieces justice (I didn't want to unwrap them...I was afraid I might hurt them somehow)...they were so wonderful...

OK...so I unwrapped a few...I just had to see these nutcracker ornaments...oh my heck...so adorable...

I chose a family to send the items to...a family that is affiliated with our church that has come on some really tough times lately (the father, the leader of the family and the sole monetary provider, recently lost his job)...AND THEN, just as I was getting everything all re-bundled up to send along to them, I got an email from my kids' school district...one of the school's bus drivers had lost her entire house to fire just the day before...the house she shared with her husband, daughter-in-law & three grandkids (her son is in the Army)...oh my gosh, my heart sank...and I knew what I wanted needed to do.

The school was asking for donations to help the family...oh my goodness - just 5 days before Christmas (I couldn't get this thought out of my head)...so, I divided the box into 2 piles (seriously, there was enough in this box to decorate more than 2 homes for the holidays), and took one over to the school's transportation department. I know that our decoration donation was probably not exactly necessary, butI pray that it helps give this family some degree of normalcy this Christmas...

The family that received the other box was able to provide some much-needed Christmas cheer in their home as well...and they were so happy that another family was also helped with a donation. Here are some photos they sent to me...complete with some new Christmas decor...thanks to Kmart...

I love how they used the beaded garland to make a tree skirt for their little tree...

A wreath was dolled-up with some ornaments & one of the collection's beautiful bird clips...

One of the family's girls adores ballet...I was told she has these pink glitter ballerina ornaments all over her room...

Now, thanks to Kmart, there is a little more joy in the world this Christmas...

Thank you so so much, Kmart & Collective Bias, for giving me the chance to participate in this wonderful holiday project!

DISCLOSURE: This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias - all opinions are 100% mine...but the joy that was created during this project is shared by many...

That's really just awesome ... I love that you got to do that! What a blessing for those families. And I think you're right - sometimes those things really bring some normalcy to life. And who doesn't love to know that someone cares enough to do something sweet?